Unsurprisingly, people need better Bathroom design choices, given the practical nature of the house’s usually smallest room. Either we focus too much on one ideal feature (roll-top bath, anyone?) and neglect practical things like storage space, or we are too concerned with where the plumbing goes and whether or not the electrics are up to code and therefore make too many safe design choices.

Many homeowners want to create a relaxing oasis, so they focus on avoiding or fixing common bathroom remodelling mistakes. However, avoiding and fixing common design mistakes is just as crucial if you want to achieve this.

Bathroom design can be tricky, but we’ve compiled a list of common pitfalls to help you get started on the right foot.

Photo by Backbone Visuals on Unsplash

1. Not Taking Into Account All Of The Specifics Of What You Need

It’s simple to lose sight of your specific needs and habits when planning a new toilet. Think about how you want your bathroom to feel, how often others will use it, and how much time you spend there before making any decisions.

Considering your needs and vision for the bathroom before beginning any renovations, you can create a space that serves your needs while also looking great.

2. Ignoring The Lighting

The lighting in a bathroom should be carefully considered from the very outset of the design process. Include dimmable spotlights and task lighting to create a soothing ambience.

Candles are a cheap and easy way to create an atmosphere of peace and tranquilly in any room.

3. Improper Measurements

You don’t want to take delivery of a suite and discover the bath or toilet won’t fit, so ensure you measure the space correctly before making any purchases. If you have a small bathroom, you should choose compact and reflective fixtures.

4. Overlooking The Floor

While flooring is often overlooked, it’s an excellent opportunity to make a bold design statement in the bathroom. Bathrooms can range from just okay to genuinely impressed with the addition of a show-stopping floor feature. Installing floor tiles with a lively pattern is an effective way to spruce up your bathroom.

5. Picking Incompatible Items

Before purchasing a new shower and tap, you should determine your home’s type of water system. Only get your hopes up about that gorgeous shower set if you have a water supply that is suitable for it.

Consult a licenced plumber if you need help deciding which water system products are best.

6. Failing To Consider Alternate Finishes

Chrome is a common material for bathroom fixtures, but other options exist. Try copper, gold, white, or black if you’re looking for variety.

A copper fixture is a stylish addition to a classic bathroom. In contrast, a black fixture complements a modern bathroom design, and a gold fixture is perfect for achieving a luxurious aesthetic.

7. Making A Place That Feels Devoid Of Character Or Personality

Don’t be afraid to use colour, texture, and pattern in the bathroom; it doesn’t have to be stark white.

If you make minor adjustments, you can inject some much-needed colour and texture by incorporating new plants, towels, and accent pieces. However, if you’re planning a more extensive renovation, consider installing patterned tiles or making a feature wall with wallpaper in a bold print.

Since we spend so much time there, the bathroom should reflect the same level of sophistication as the rest of your home.

8. Ignoring The Importance Of Selecting Tiles

Choosing the right colour, size, and material of tiles can make or break your bathroom design. Grout of the proper colour can even make a huge difference.

Large tiles in a small bathroom can create the impression of more room. If you want the luxurious appearance of natural stone or marble but need more money, you can find affordable porcelain imitations. Metro tiles are widely used because they can be found in various colours.

9. Forgetting Mirror

In addition to serving its functional purpose in the bathroom, a mirror can be used to visually expand a restricted area by reflecting light.

Make sure the mirror you pick complements the bathroom’s aesthetic and is positioned appropriately so everyone can see themselves clearly.

Making a mirror wall or installing a large circular mirror is a great way to make a bold design statement. Makeup application or a morning shave requires bright light, but a bathroom mirror with lights can be dimmed to create a soothing atmosphere for a long soak in the tub.

10. Forgetting To Add The Accessories

It’s easy to overlook the essential role of bathroom accessories in the overall design of a new bathroom, among the many other factors to consider. The final touches to your new bathroom can be made with coordinated accessories like candles, vases, and vessels. The finishing touches are often the ones that make the most significant difference.

11. Having Real Wooden Floors

If the room is a bathroom, scrap your plans to install sanded-back wooden floorboards. Wood is somewhat off-limits, but using solid wood may cause issues.

He advises against installing solid or reclaimed wood boards in the bathroom because “wood flooring is not the most practical of floors to use in any set environment.” If you’re dead set on installing wooden floorboards in your bathroom, an engineered board is your best bet. An engineered plank’s multilayer construction makes it exceptionally resistant to warping in damp environments with extreme temperature swings. Due to this, your floor is less likely to discolour, expand, contract, cup, or gap.

If you’re thinking about installing underfloor heating (which you should), engineered wood is your only option. Simon explains that engineered wood flooring is stable enough to be installed directly over underfloor heating, unlike solid wood.

12. Forcing a Private Bathroom with a Shower

Since the beginning of 2020, sales of freestanding baths have increased by 50%, and they continue to be at the top of everyone’s wish list for new bathrooms. Nevertheless, do we always recommend them? Certainly not!

The “bath vs. shower” debate is moot if your bathroom is tiny. It’s not a good idea to squeeze in a freestanding tub and a separate shower stall if you prefer showering to soaking in the tub ninety per cent of the time. You might get stuck with a shower that’s too cramped and uncomfortable to use regularly; trust us, we know from experience. Or else you’ll have a crowded, unusable space (and the bruises to prove it).

The situation is not hopeless; there are answers. Retro models of over-the-bath showers, in particular, can add a splash of class to your bathroom. Concentrating on the shower area is also possible, with features like a wet room-style layout and multiple shower heads.

Alternatively, if you have a sizable master bedroom, you could install a bathtub there; however, you should consider the plumbing required and the strength of your ceiling before making this decision. Another option is to spend less time expanding your lavatory. To summarise, don’t cram too much into a cramped space.

13. Using Surfaces That Are Difficult To Clean

Even if it seems like a great idea at the time, if you need more time or energy to maintain those features and finishes, they could end up being the downfall of your bathroom.

Particularly difficult are the tiles in a bathroom. Although mosaic tiles are visually appealing, they quickly become unsightly due to mildew buildup and mould in the grout between them. Natural stones with pores, such as travertine, limestone, and marble, are once again stunning. However, they are susceptible to water damage and can be stained by your bathroom beauty and hair care products if not adequately treated.

A similar level of caution should be exercised when dealing with bathroom fixtures like sinks and faucets. Maybe that black sink is on-trend, but will it show water spots? Copper sinks and taps are notorious for showing fingerprints and other marks, while brushed steel is nearly unscratchable.

14. Insufficient Airflow Due to Relying on Windows

To properly ventilate a bathroom, especially one that shares a wall with a bedroom, opening a window will probably not cut it. Poor ventilation can be detrimental to your health and your home’s aesthetic. Bathrooms that tend to be damp and humid are breeding grounds for mould, mildew, and rot, which can cause serious health problems for those susceptible, including damage to furniture, grout, and brass fixtures.

Wet areas, such as kitchens and bathrooms, “are at the greatest risk of mould infestation” because of the abundance of steam and moisture in these spaces. When you get home, opening the bathroom door isn’t going to cut it. More problems will arise in ordinarily dry areas if the moisture is allowed to spread to other rooms.

The most effective solution is to install an exhaust fan in the bathroom, which draws the moisture out of the air and vents it through an exterior wall. If you want to let some air in, you’ll still need to open a window.

The most common installations for fans are on the wall or ceiling. These latter models will vent air to the outdoors via ductwork, and many will also function as lights or Bluetooth speakers, making them a potentially more compelling retrofit option. Brands like Braun, Panasonic, and Delta are all solid options.

Using the room’s dimensions, you can easily calculate the required extraction rate of the fan in CFM (cubic feet per minute). Consider a bathroom with dimensions of 8 feet in length, 5 feet in width, and 9 feet in height. The minimum CFM extraction rate is 8 x 5 x 9 x 0.13 = 46.8. With more ductwork, a slightly higher extraction rate is required. Do not exceed the maximum CFM rate, which could cause the fan to become louder than necessary.

Conclusion

Careful planning is vital to a beautiful bathroom design, whether for a total makeover or just a few minor changes. Several factors to consider when designing your bathroom to guarantee that it will continue to look good and function well for years, including the type of water system you have, the design you choose, and the faucets you install.

If you plan to design your beautiful bathroom, choose Cadsoft for your building needs. Cadsoft is a type of BIM software considered one of the best home design software.

Whether you’re a designer, architect, builder, estimator, or homeowner, Cadsoft Envisioneer will prove helpful. Use this BIM programme to draw up a blueprint, calculate projected costs, and immerse yourself in virtual reality.

The post Design Flaws That Should Be Avoided in Bathroom Design appeared first on Softvire New Zealand.